Imaginary Blog

Monday, October 20, 2014

Feeling
frustrated about the long wait times to hear back from editors? Why wait endlessly
for an editor’s rejection when you can write your very own? That’s what I did in this
write-yourself-a-rejection “assignment.” (My critique group often gives unique assignments
such as this to get creative and let off steam.)

We regret the need to send you this form letter for your recent
submission.

We don’t want your story.

We don’t want you to revise it.

We don’t want to see it or hear from you again.

Sorry to be so blunt, but we’ve been accused of being
unclear in the past.

However, since we kept your story longer than: (circle one)

Longer than the submission guidelines on our website

Longer than we stated in the SCBWI or CWIM market guides

Longer than
is necessary, reasonable, humane

Longer than
3 years

Longer than
the postal rate on your SASE (that’s why this letter is coming to you postage
due)

All of the above

Okay, so we
kept it too long!

Since we kept your manuscript so long we thought you’d enjoy
a personal note from a real live editor for you to endlessly ponder. Here goes:

Dear Author,

We passed your story around the
office for months, I mean years on end and everyone got a chuckle, especially
the janitor. But what’s with the talking bees? Haven’t you ever attended an
SCBWI conference? Don’t you know we don’t like talking animals? And while we say that we don’t want rhyme, even
though your story does not rhyme, perhaps my underlying message is you might
want to try rhyme?

Still, the janitor liked it so if you want to
submit to him in the future, feel free. He just got a new pet goat (that talks
by the way). He brings Gertie to work most nights so we should be getting
through the slush pile much faster from now on.
Sincerely yours,

Emily Editor

** No real goats, janitors or editors were harmed in the
writing of this blog post. All goats, editors and janitors mentioned here are completely
fictitious. Any resemblance to real goats, janitors or editors is purely
coincidental.

When I joined
The Revisionaries critique group http://vimeo.com/71542261 none of The Revisionaries were
published. Now we all are. The Revisionaries often give each other random
assignments to let loose and keep creative.

When I originally wrote the
above rejection letter to myself, I was also unpublished. Now I have the
following books to my name, including a story with talking bees!

The Award is given annually by LEE & LOW BOOKS for a children's picture book manuscript by a writer of color. The contest encourages writers of color to submit their work to a publisher that takes pride in nurturing new talent. Past winners include Bird by Zetta Elliott and It Jes' Happened by Don Tate.

Contest SubmissionWriters of color who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a children's picture book published are eligible.

The Award winner receives a cash grant of $1000 and our standard publication contract, including our basic advance and royalties for a first time author. An Honor Award winner will receive a cash grant of $500.

Manuscripts will be accepted through September 30, 2014. See the full submissions guidelines here and answers to some FAQ's about the contest here.

Spread the WordDid you know that last year, books written by authors of color made up less than seven percent of the total number of books published (see these CCBC stats)?

Change requires more than just goodwill; it requires concrete action. We were heartened by First Book's recent commitment to purchasing 10,000 copies of select books from "new and underrepresented voices." Likewise, the New Voices Award is a concrete step towards evening the playing field by seeking out talented new authors of color who might otherwise remain under the radar of mainstream publishing.

I am multi-tasking as usual, working on a few
projects in different children’s book genres. I’m revising a couple of picture
books, one about a cat that might or might not be real.

I’m also diving back into a middle grade
novel with a supporting character whose friend might be imaginary. I guess I am
working through my own creative imagination process!?

I’ve also been taking a poetry class this spring.
I’d made it through high school, my undergraduate career and two masters
degrees without ever taking a poetry class—until now that is. Needless to say,
it’s challenging but I’m learning a lot. I’m stretching my comfort zone which
is always a good thing.

How does my work differ from others of its
genre?

First off, I write in various genres: picture
books, young chapter books, middle grade and young adult. In all of these, I
tend to include both younger and older characters, often in an extended family,
alternative family or community. Whatever the genre, I aim to write stories
filled with humor and heart.

Why do I write what I write?

I don’t seem to have a choice. The
characters, ideas and stories come to me and inspire me, but often in
incomplete form. My job is to try to capture the heart of the characters and figure
out their story or journey on the page.

How does my individual writing process work?

It’s often a puzzle. I’ll have the snippet of
an idea that intrigues me, or perhaps a spunky character, a unique question or
line of dialogue, or an interesting opening scene. I’ll start writing to see
how the scene develops and explore what the characters have to tell me. Then of
course, I keep writing more scenes. Once I’ve captured the first draft, I
revise, revise, revise, share my work with my trusted critique partners, then revise
and revise again.

Arree makes picture books but he didn’t always do so. Once he made spreadsheets all day long and he decided that he wanted to make pictures instead. Arree learned how to draw, paint and think a little bit differently at Art Center College of Design.

In the past decade, Arree has worked in the games industry as a designer and Art Director. Arree’s first debut picture book, “Ninja!” publishes June 3rd, 2014. When Arree is not practicing his Ninja moves, you can find him playing basketball or riding his bike.Tag #2, who's next? Tag you are also it, Kristin Aker Howell!I'malso tagging Kristin Aker Howell.

Kristin Aker Howell currently enjoys her job as Teacher Librarian at Ohlone Elementary School In Palo Alto. She has co-written a few musicals produced at the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, and published a couple of personal essays. Her short story, Bondo, won an honorable mention in the Glimmer Train Fiction Open. Kristin earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Hamline University where she developed a deep appreciation for the revision process, which she continues to practice on her many manuscripts for children and young adults. Kristin is searching for a cure to her bad case of stripes. It is definitely not lima beans.

While we await Kristin's & Arree's posts, please click below to see more authors on the tour.

What's My Genre? Finding Your Voice in Children's Literature

Children’s publishing presents a vast array of writing opportunities, with many genres to consider: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, poetry, fantasy, and young adult fiction. Many important questions face an aspiring writer of children’s literature. When discovering their own genre and voice, writers must consider: What age is the main character? How old is the intended audience? What’s currently being published? Over three Saturdays, this course will introduce students to exemplary titles that showcase the unique qualities of various genres. Through fun and absorbing in-class writing exercises, students will begin to discover their own voices while exploring various genres in children’s literature.

The course is open to aspiring as well as experienced writers, and students may bring five pages of their work-in-progress for discussion in the workshop.

Elissa Haden Guest, Author

Elissa Haden Guest is the author of numerous children’s books, most recently the picture book, Harriet’s Had Enough!. Books in her ten-book early reader series, Iris and Walter, have been named Junior Library Guild Selections, an ALA Notable Book, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, and a PEN Center USA West Literary Award.

Lynn E. Hazen, Author

Lynn Hazen is the author of the young adult novel, Shifty, which was named on VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction list, and was a CCBC Choice and a Smithsonian Notable. Her other books include Mermaid Mary Margaret, Cinder Rabbit, The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail, and Buzz Bumble to the Rescue. She received an MA in education from San Francisco State and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College.

1:00 on Be sure to join us in the Koret Studios (2nd floor) after 1 p.m. for a chance to work with Lynn to create your own Amazing Trail book mark and multi-media snail in the Koret Studios.

Lynn E. Hazen writes children's and young adult books filled with humor, heart and hope. Lynn's books for younger readers include: TheAmazing Trail of Seymour Snail, Cinder Rabbit,(both young chapter books), Buzz Bumble to the Rescue (a picture book), & Mermaid Mary Margaret (a middle grade novel). She has also written a young adult novel called Shifty. Inspiration often comes from her own kids as well as the exuberant children she encounters as a preschool director.

Explore art, create your own, travel to virtual worlds, get hands-on, discover special places, be inspired. That’s just a hint at the fun we have in store for you on Family Sundays. Moderators guide participatory art projects, and docents lead family-friendly gallery tours. Special programs like book readings and movie screenings round it all out. Look. Think. Create. That's the plan for Family Sunday. See the Family Sundays page for details.

Program and museum admission are free for children 12 and under. Regular admission applies for adults and students.

An Imaginary Blog? Sure, why not?

That's what fiction writers do, right? We imagine characters, settings and plot twists. I imagine this will be a place to capture creative moments in the life of a children's and YA author--a blog filled with short snippets of humor, heart and hope.Forecast: Hopeful with a chance of humor and heart